Tuesday, May 27 2008

This first installment traces Basie's early years; his childhood, his pilgrimage to Harlem - the home of the stride piano - his relationship with Thomas "Fats" Waller, and his early life as a traveling musician with Katie Krippen and her Kitties, Walter Page and the Blue Devils, and Jimmy Rushing. Part One ends with Basie's arrival in Kansas City and his encounter with the Benny Moten Band.